All foreign nationals from non CIS countries are required to have a visa to travel to the Russian Federation. Russian visas can be obtained at a local Russian Embassy or Consulate. The steps that are needed to get a Russian visa are outlined below:

There are 3 things that you have to do to get
and keep a Russian visa in good standing.

Business Invitation Order Now! - from €90.00 ($0.00) to €120 ($0.00); processing time: 25 working days;
(multiple entry 6 months or 1 year stay);
note:(we have one of the lowest prices for business invitations
on the Internet)

Depending on your type of visa and the country you are
applying from, there may be a need to send the document
by courier service, in which case there will be an
additional fee to cover this expense.

We begin to process all requests immediately after payment and completed
information is received by our St Petersburg (Russia) offices and customer support is provided 7 days a week to help guide you though the entire process.

For your convenience, you will be able to pay for your invitation with a credit
card (Visa, MC) or by Western Union

Your invitation and/or voucher (Most Russian consulates in Western countries
accept fax copies for tourist visas, but require original copies for business
visas)

Completed visa applications (two per person), signed by the Applicant. All entries on the form must be typed or printed in block letters in English or Russian. Incomplete visa application forms shall not be processed. Application forms can be downloaded.

Effective April 1, 2004 US citizens are required to submit a new visa application form to Consulate. The new form is implemented on the basis of reciprocity and replaces the previous Standard Application Form and Supplemental Form.

Valid national passport (original only and it should have at least two clear pages). It must be valid no less than six months after the visa expiration date. Holders of travel documents other than passports (Permit to Re-Enter the United States of America, Travel Document, etc.) must submit valid Permanent Resident Card.

Two passport size pictures of the applicant. Pictures can be black-and-white or color, full face, stapled to the upper-corner of an application. Digital copies are not accepted.

Money Order or Certified Bank Check payable to the Russian Consulate for visa processing. Please note that we do not accept cash, personal or company checks.

A prepaid return self-addressed envelope from a registered delivery service
such as FedEx

For those staying in private rental apartments,
smaller hotels that don't have registration
privileges, or private families, visitors can register
through hotels or notary offices for a small fee,
usually about €20. Nevsky88 has a number of such
registration contacts available and is always ready to
help with your registration.

For those staying longer than 3 months have
options to register through local hotels, notary
offices or the local police department in charge of
such issues (OVIR).